One of the most important characteristics of life is its inevitable end: death. I think that is the grand irony of life—we are already dying the moment we are conceived. Death is scary for many people and remains a taboo in many cultures.
Many of us find the idea of death so frightening that we spend our precious time worrying about the inevitable. What a waste. Because of this fear, we fail to fully live.
Then there is also the fear of losing someone we love so dearly and deeply. Death is not only terrifying for those who face it, but also for those who are left behind. Grief can be as daunting as death itself.
The philosophy of Stoicism, however, provides us with mental tools to face death and look it directly in the eyes: Memento Mori—remember that you must die.
